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Good morning, Elle!
Not sure of my bets yet, though I will be backing Nina in the Cross Country race. She rides Josie's Orders for Enda Bolger.
The Cross Country is one of my very favourite races.
I am not certain, but I think in Britain, Cheltenham is the only course that has a Cross Country course.
I was at the skips early on.
Yes, very gallant of Ted.
Nina was on The Morning Line on C4 this morning, as was her Dad-in-law, Ted senior!.
I like to hear of folk winning, so well done on the meal.
I am going to start my crossword puzzle now.
A bit earlier than usual!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, it was a timely win, wasn't it? Just in time to go out and celebrate the birth of our fifth grandchild!
(mind you, I think the voucher is valid for three months!)
Five grandkids.........and BB asked me the other day how come I didn't have any children!
I don't think he was convinced that his mummy is my daughter!
The sun is shining, the sky is blue and the green grass of yonder beckons.... I shall take the dog out for a walk!
I'll keep my fingers crossed for Nina.......

Hello, Elle!
Nina was second in her race.
Today's headlines will be all about Sprinter Sacre.
He was out for two years with heart fibrilations and other ailments and has just won the Champion Chase.
An amazing recovery!
Very pleased for trainer Nicky Henderson and jockey Nico de Boinville.
To quote Willie Mullins, "a win for racing".
The crowd went wild for the horse.
Well, it has been a nice day here.
Think we are into spring!

Hey, Rusty!
It sounds like you have had a good day!
Nina did well to come second - did you get a pay out on your bet on her? I cannot understand these bets?
I have heard of Sprinter Sacre. It was thought that his racing days were over, wasn't it?
And now here he is winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase!
Well done him!
Yes, we had a nice day here in the end. It was great out this afternoon.
Isn't March 21st the first day of Spring? Not long to go now........
And not long either till Easter! I must buy some Easter eggs for the grandchildren!

Hello, Elle!
Sprinter Sacre, the Lazarus of Cheltenham!
He was wonderful. It is some tale.
Nicky Henderson (he shed a tear or two!) is to be congratulated for being so patient with him. In and out of equine hospitals etc.
And now he is the Two Mile Champion Chaser.
The reception the crowd gave them was tremendous!
Made my day!
Yes, Nina had to be in the first four home, and she almost won!
Wonder if Vic was watching?
I suppose Easter must be soon?
It is not something that I celebrate.

Hi, Rusty!
Easter is early this year.
Easter Sunday is on March 27th.
Your talking about not celebrating it, reminded me of when we first met our elder daughter's parents- in -law to be!
She wanted the first meeting to go well, so we were warned beforehand what topics to avoid talking about.......one was religion and the other private education!
Our daughter thought that these subjects were potentially controversial and might case disagreements, so we should best keep off them!
I had to differ from her; I think a good lively discussion /argument is better any day than making polite stilted conversation or sitting in near silence!
However, all went well, and conversation flowed freely without having to broach either topic!
(It turned out that the prospective in-laws had also been warned to "behave themselves"!)
We are all very good friends now!

Hello, Elle!
I was very lucky.
I had a smashing Mother-in-law.
I visited her up to the day she died and yet I had divorced her daughter 32 years previously.
We simply got on very well.
I think religion is a subject to steer clear of.
There is no logic to it, just belief, however irrational.
Best left alone.
I have never found out, but did Easter precede Christianity?
I never know when it is!
I have ordered a book from Amazon.
It is a biography of Willie Mullins father, Paddy.
He trained the great mare, Dawn Run, the only horse to have won the Champion Hurdle and the Gold Cup.
Are you joining the Ladies for lunch tomorrow?

Good morning, Rusty!
A cold , bright morning today! Very invigorating!
How is it with you?
Yes, you were very lucky with your mother- in- law.
You obviously had a very special relationship with her.
Sadly, I never knew mine. She had died long before we were married.
My father -in -law was a lovely man.
I believe Easter was a pagan festival originally? I think that the early Christians adopted it as similar to the Jewish Passover?
I could be wrong here as I'm none too sure of its history?
Easter is a "movable feast" so the dates differ every year.
I have heard the name Paddy Mullins, even though I have never followed horse racing.
You should enjoy the book!
Yes, I am going out to lunch later.......I am looking forward to it!
Just going to have a quick look at the crosswords now.......

Good day to you, Elle!
Cold up here!
I had an idea Easter was on the go long before Christianity started out.
Maybe connected with the Moon and tides?
Will have a wee look in Brewers later.
I am surprised you have heard of Paddy Mullins!
There is a statue of Dawn Run at Cheltenham.
And of Arkle (known as "Himself"!)
Wonder if Queen Vic will be on the Morning Line tomorrow?
I am going to read my paper now.
Hope the ladies and you enjoy lunch!

Hi Rusty and Elle,

Beautiful morning here, no wind, no frost - supposed to be 14C later.

For what it's worth, Easter occurs 'on the first Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or soonest after the 21st of March'.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/easter just in case you are interested !